Ideally, when you hear anime, your mind instantly conjures up a few images like brightly colored characters, big round eyes, and slice-of-life stories. But the truth is that anime is a wide-ranging medium that covers all sorts of content and caters to audiences of all ages. In fact, some of the best anime series ever created are rated R because they have the kind of graphics and themes that are inappropriate for children. We aren’t talking about shows like Pokémon or Naruto here. These R-rated anime series feature complex plots, psychological depth, violence, and dark visuals.
The stories lie on either side of the spectrum – natural horror tales as well as light-hearted fantasies. If you are a true anime fan and are willing to expand your knowledge of the art, then this list of the best shows ever created is the perfect place to start. But remember, for an anime to be rated R nothing is off limits which means here you'll meet morally corrupted heroes. witness the most gruesome deaths and slip into fascinating gore scenes. .
20 Harem in the Labyrinth of Another World (2022)
Despite being adventurous and captivating, Harem in the Labyrinth of Another World is an odd isekai anime. It follows Michio Kaga, a young man who suddenly finds himself transported to a fantastical game world. At first, Kaga is dubious to his surroundings so he pretends to play, defeats enemies, and passes obstacles. But when he realizes that he cannot really log out of the game, instead of finding a way back out, Kaga embraces his new reality and decides to make the best of it. He enslaves Roxanne, a busty dog girl, wins over dungeons to earn money, and fashions a harem. The plot sounds decent but the series is filled with a lot of blood and violence, and the scenes between Kaga and Roxanne are rightfully censored.
19 Highschool of the Dead (2010)
Highschool of the Dead starts off at a brilliant pace, setting up its premise for a zombie apocalypse from the first episode itself. In the series, Japan is in utter chaos after the dead rise and begin attacking and turning people. When they reach high school, Takashi Kimuro has no choice but to kill his infected best friend and vow to protect his girlfriend, Rei Miyamoto. After escaping the monstrosity, Takashi and Rei realize that the outside world is already in shambles. They form an alliance with a bunch of people – president of the Kendo Club, their hot high school nurse, a politician’s daughter, and an otaku – and fight together. The episodes get pretty bloody, with each of the characters slashing the zombies with zero remorse.
18 Sekirei (2008)
Blending the elements of an unusual romantic comedy with a supernatural premise, Sekirei is a smart, carefully-paced, feel-good anime. It centers around 19-year-old Minato Sahashi, who is physically weak but is selfless and attentive towards those he cares about. One day, he is walking home after failing college entrance exams for the second time when a beautiful woman literally falls from the sky and onto him.
Musubi is a humanoid extraterrestrial known as the “Sekirei,” and apparently her kind can kiss a worthy person and awaken their abilities. That’s what Musubi does with Minato, and soon he finds himself drawn into a brand new world of harem girls. Filled with dramatic moments and a delicate balance of comedy and romance, Sekirei is a modern imagination of the relationship between men and women.
17 Baki (2018)
Adapted from the first volume of the manga series of the same name, Baki is a pulsating martial arts anime. The main protagonist, Baki Hanma is a fighter. He’s won several underground tournaments and how it is time for him to stand up against the strongest man in his life, his father. However, at school, tournament runner, Tokugawa Mitsunari warns him of the fact that five of the most brutal and undefeated death row inmates have escaped from prison and are hungry for the taste of blood – or defeat, whichever gets them first. The men are advancing towards Tokyo and there is no reason for them to not fight Baki. A fiesta for martial arts lovers, this anime shows what it means to hold a grudge and the actions it leads to.
16 Prison School (2015)
KBS
Sun TV
TV Aichi
BS11
AT-X
Crunchyroll
Funimation
Set in a boarding school named Hachimitsu Private Academy in the outskirts of Tokyo, Prison School follows teen Kiyoshi and four other boys who have only just entered the premises of the renowned all-girls school. The reason? The school policy has been revised and it has become co-ed, with the ratio between girls and boys being two hundred to one. The boys are self-aware, they know it is impossible to make a first impression. But when their plan of sneaking around and peeping at the girls fails, they are sent to a prison on the school grounds with a month’s sentence. Monitored by the Underground Student Council, their punishment becomes a hilarious exploration of school and prison, with the boys performing outlandish pranks and bonding over shared misery.
15 Goblin Slayer (2018)
From the name alone, you can tell that this intense and gory anime has two major themes: goblins and slaying. In this fantastical world, goblins are infamous creatures known for their cruelty and penchant for reproduction. They ravage villages and take women, forcing 15-year-old Priestess to join a band of amateur hunters to locate these goblins. The group is stuck defenseless and the goblins ambush them, and right when they’re about to attack the Priestess, the ironclad killer and savior appears and destroys the horde of goblins. This Goblin Slayer himself is a Silver rank holder, so he allows the little members of the Adventurer's Guild to accompany him. However basic in its narrative, Goblin Slayer delivers gory death scenes and a hard-hitting visual experience.
14 Parasyte (2014)
Much like the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Venom, this science fiction horror series produced by Madhouse starts with an alien invasion. Their presence on Earth only calls for danger because they’re walking among humans, hungry for their meat, burrowing into the brains of their targets and taking control over their bodies. When nice guy Shinichi Izumi, a 16-year-old high school student, is attacked by an alien, the horror does not land on his brain but on his right hand instead. Stuck in the wrong place, the parasite Migi cannot relocate so it must coexist alongside Shinichi and the two must fight to stay alive in a world of brutality and death. Considering how little we know of the universe outside of our little planet, Parasyte creates a storyline that isn’t entirely farcical. Moreover, its astonishing gore and jaw-dropping action alone is enough to keep you hooked.
13 Psycho-Pass (2012)
Imagine the best elements of cyberpunk mixed with a psychologically intriguing plot. What you get is a thrilling anime that is violent and futuristic. Set in the 22nd century, when Japan is under the strict scrutiny of the Sibyl System, there are certain inspectors who are tasked with eliminating all ill based on the psyche of a person, even if it requires the use of brute force.
On the other hand, we have Enforcers, who are basically Inspectors gone rogue and carrying our criminal activities across the city’s nightscape. Akane Tsunemori is our typical good girl, willing to destroy everything in the name of justice. But when she learns about the glitch in the Sibyl System, her perspective shifts. Psycho-Pass is a complicated anime, with themes that would only resonate with an older audience.
12 Kengan Ashura (2019)
In the gritty and violent world of Kengan Ashura, business deals aren’t carried out in the traditional fashion. But instead the moguls hire gladiators to fight in underground tournaments and place their bets on the strongest contender. The trend has been in practice since the Edo Period, so it is only natural that the rules are to fight or die. Ouma Tokita is a skilled gladiator who fights on behalf of the chairman of Nogi Group, Hideki Nogi. With the help of his appointed manager, Ouma gets listed for several killer Kengan Matches and unleashes wrath upon those he fights against. The series is one of Netflix’s greatest action releases in recent years. And the reason for its R-rating is the ruthlessness of the tournaments and the sheer monstrosity of the players.
11 Vinland Saga (2019)
Tokyo MX
BS11
GBS
Vinland Saga is an epic historical fiction slash revenge anime that begins with the adventures of young Thorfinn. As a child, he used to hear stories of sailors sailing across the vastly spread oceans to reach Vinland, the island of the legends. The place is nothing like the village in Iceland, where he grew up. Now, with the growing war between England and the Danes have left him as a mercenary, at war with anyone who crosses his path. All Throfinn wants is to kill the arrogant Askeladd and avenge his father’s death. The animation is hauntingly beautiful, with most of the shots capturing the brutality and bloodshed of Viking warfare during the early Middle Ages. The fight scenes are truly captivating, but it is the complex characters and their transitions that make the series great.
10 Black Lagoon (2006)
Pure, blood-on-the-wall, profane gang action meets pitch black humor in this stylish and aesthetic anime. The story of Black Lagoon is a bit complicated. Rokurou Okajima is a mild-mannered salaryman who only wants to rise up the ranks. When a business deal in Thailand goes wrong, he is kidnapped by the Black Lagoon crew. The crew is a deadly one, including a group of mercenaries who operate out of the lawless city of Roanapur. But Rokuru was already done with his corporate life, so instead of escaping the hellscape, he finds himself embracing the violent criminal world of south-east Asia. Apart from the extremely graphic visuals of drug dealing prostitution, and bloodshed that runs in the streets, it is fair to note the the gang’s compassionate leader Revy has a mouth like a scissor.
9 Hellsing Ultimate (2006)
A vampiric badass gore-fest that only only delights you with its characters but also quenches your hunger for consuming R-rated content. Set in a world where vampires roam the night, devouring every human in sight, Hellsing Ultimate familiarizes us with the organization created by Integra Fairbrook Wingates Hellsing to protect the people of the city. She’s not only incredibly powerful herself, but also has an army that she can command any time of night or day.
But perhaps her greatest strength lies in a secret weapon she keeps close – the vampire Alucard who works for Hellsing and battles his own race, the undead. The scenes where the vampires threaten England as well as the twisted horror in battles are all adapted faithfully from the original manga.
8 Attack on Titan (2013)
Muse Communication
Plus Media Networks Asia
Attack on Titan has a massive devoted fan base so it is only appropriate that the series would make the list. Going back centuries, the anime paints a world where humanoid creatures known as Titans have rampaged the world, slaughtering mankind not for food, but solely for pleasure. After years of being tortured, the remaining humans find shelter by creating barriers from the outside world and living in peace. Until one day, a giant Titan breaks through the wars and unleashes horror upon humans. Eren Yeager, who loses his family, vows to eradicate all Titans from Earth. So along with his adopted sister Mikasa Ackerman, and childhood best friend Armin Arlert, he joins the Survey Corp, a team of military soldiers who step out of safety and put their lives on the line to fight. The series has impeccable visuals as well as a thoughtful narrative.
7 Baccano! (2007)
Adapted beautifully from Ryohgo Narita's award-winning light novels of the same name, Baccano! is one of the few incredible series set during prohibition. A madcap tale filled with jarring kills and a gory atmosphere, it jumps between three primary timelines. First is set in the 1930s, where Flying Pussyfoot, a transcontinental train, is running at full speed, killing people behind it. Somewhere else in New York, mad scientists are scheming to gain immortality. And in the 1700s, there are alchemists uncovering deadly secrets. The anime is extremely violent and delivers some of the most jaw-dropping scenes of bloodbaths, but at the same time it has a comedic factor to keep things light. The chemistry between its diverse characters, particularly Isaac and Miria, is surprisingly fun to watch.
6 Devilman Crybaby (2018)
Staying relevant almost 50 years after its initial release, Devilman: Crybaby is an anime that has not only left a massive impact on the art but also inspired several creators for decades. This ultra-violent re-imagining follows Akira Fudou, a soft-hearted and trusting boy whose innocent friendship with his best friend Ryou Asuka transforms into an epic struggle between good and evil. Apparently, Ryou leads Akira to a party, which turns out to be a Sabbath where demons are gleefully taking possession of human bodies and turning them into hybrid monsters. When Ryou becomes the victim of one, Akira follows suit to save his friend and upon a partnership with a devil named Amon, Akira transforms into Devilman. The anime pays a lot of attention to visceral gore and environmental devastation.
5 Berserk (1997)
More often than not, anime centered around the life of mercenaries are R-rated. Same is the case with Berserk, which follows the journey of Guts, who is known for being the strongest fighter alive. As the Black Swordsman, Guts jumps between gigs, only ever staying with the group that pays him more. But when he happens to defeat most of the members of a group called the Band of the Falcon, Guts is challenged to a duel with Griffith, the leader. Griffith leaves Guts incapacitated in just one blow. Eventually, Guts joins the Band of the Falcon, fueled by his own experience and troubled childhood, willing to destroy. Whether it is Gut’s one-man war or his role in gritty sword fights for Griffith, the series portrays darkly mythical themes and pure carnage without ever holding back.
4 Cowboy Bebop (1998)
.jpg?q=50&fit=crop&w=1500&dpr=1.5)
Censored for the younger audience because of its violent scenes and coarse language, this classic anime is more a space western than an action adventure. It centers around Spike Spiegel and Jet Black, two bounty hunters who trot across the solar system in search of criminals. The crimes lie anywhere between theft and drug use to murder, and the outlaws responsible for this are terrifying.
Soon, Spike and Jet are accompanied by more tough fighters like Faye Valentine and Edward Wong. Cowboy Bebop is more stylish and celebrated than any other anime on this list. And the reason is its complex characters, who aren’t just fighting iconic battles but also struggling with their past. Moreover, the animation is beautiful as it paints a beautiful picture of a neo-noir universe that lingers in your memory.
3 Redo of Healer (2021)
Because we’re specifically taking a look at some of the greatest R-rated anime series, Redo of Healer deserves a mention. On the surface, the series is a dark revenge fantasy, where our protagonist Keyaru simply seeks vengeance against all the people that wronged him. Apparently, Keyaru is a healing magician who has lived a difficult life as a victim of sexual abuse and torture. Broken and crushed by the weight of endless agony, Keyaru decides to use his magic and redo the past four years of his life so he can go back and punish everyone who hurt him. While the premise leads you to believe that Keyaru deserves justice, it is the brutal methods he uses, inflicting pain like a sadist and losing himself in the process that leaves you conflicted and disgusted.
2 Cyberpunk: Edgerunners (2022)
Perhaps the best thing about Cyberpunk: Edgerunners is its animation, color scheme, and overall aesthetic. The visuals alone are enough to dunk you in its gritty world, but let’s take a look at the storyline anyway. Set in a futuristic Californian town known as Night City, the series follows David Martinez, a street kid who dreams of becoming the head of the greatest security corporation. He enrolls at the Arasaka Academy but a devastating incident leaves him crushed and with no choice but to implant a Sandevistan cyberware onto his back, gain incredible powers, and use them against the very corporation he wished to be a part of. David’s character is quite emotional, which is why he never holds back while fighting. Darkly beautiful, the anime will surely give you an adrenaline rush.
1 Chainsaw Man (2022)
Medialink
Created by MAPPA Studios, Chainsaw Man is a pulse-pounding action anime. The story revolves around Denji, a teenager who wishes for nothing more than a normal life, to be free from the weight of his father’s debts, and to have a pretty girlfriend. So far, all he has is a best friend/demon dog named Pochita to call his home. When an unbelievable betrayal leads to his death, Denji strikes a deal with Pochita and transforms his desperate self into a hybrid. His devilish powers and thirst for redemption leads him into a world of violence and he devotes his life to fighting, with the hope that one day he will get what he wants. Delivering fan service moments as well as graphic action with an atmosphere of pure darkness, the anime clearly appeals to fans.